Flow diverter for open wells



J. E. WELTON FLOW DIVERTER FOR OPEN WELLS Filed Jan. 21, 1927 (707ml? Wmmavwenkvc Patented Feb. 14, 1928.

UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE}.

JOHN E. WEL'ION, or BOWLING GREEN, 01110.

FLOW DIVERTER FOR OPEN WELLS.

Application filed January 21, 1927. Serial No. 162,520.

in the well, the construction being such that,

although the casing head is opened at its upper end, gas cannot escape there.

A preferred form of the invention has been shown in the drawings, but those skilled in the art should notice that a mechanic, working within the scope of what is claimed, may make such changes as may be considered expedient, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:--

Figure 1 shows in side elevation, a device constructed in accordancewith the invention;

' Figure 2 is a longitudinal section; and

Figure 3 is a top plan.

The numeral 1 marks a casing head, including a tubular body 2 having a detachable top 3 and a detachable bottom 4. a The top 3 has an opening, which may be in the form of a tubular member 5 mounted intermediate its ends in the top 3, the tubular member 5 having a flared lower end 6 pro vided with. perforations 7. The bottom t is provided with a sleeve 8, having a flared upper end 9. In. the operation of the device, the well tubing. (not shown) is'connected to the sleeve 8, and the tubular member is stopped, at its upper end, by a closure (not shown). The body 2 has lateral outlets 10.

If the tubular member 5 is opened, to per mit workmen to operate in the well through the sleeve 8, there is a tendency, in the absence of the mechanism herein described, for the gas proceeding from the well, as a by-product, generally, to flow up through the member 5, the workmen about the easing head being overcome, or even killed. In order to prevent this, recourse is had to a mechanism which will now be described.

The tubular member 5 is provided with lateral nipples 11 to which are connected nozzles 12 that extend outwardly, any desired distance,into the outlets 10. Inclined pipes 14 are mountedin the top 3 and in the tubular member 5, and discharge into the tubular member. In practical operation, steam, air, or any other fluid under pressure is dischargedinto the pipes 14- and flows into the tubular member 5. may rise in the tubular member 5 is met by the fluid under pressure, discharged through the pipes '14, the rising gas thus being held in check, and being carried laterally through Any gas that a=-" the nipples 10 and the nozzles 12. Not only a;

is the gas carried away, in this manner, but the nozzles 12 operate like injectors, and aid in drawing away, through the outlets 10, the products of the well, and the gas, which rise in the body 2. The construction of the device is such that the tubular member 5 may be opened at its upper end, as shown in Figure 2, to permit access to the sleeve 8 and the well casing connected therewith, and, at the same time, there will be no upward flow of poisonous gas through the tubular member 5 and into the faces of the workmen. It is to be noted that it is not necessary to provide a fluid pressure which is strong enough to force the upwardly rising gas back and downwardly through the lower end of the tubular member 5. In the operation of this device, the fluid under pressure meets the rising gas within the tubular member 5 and at a point intermediate the ends of the tubular member, and the rising gas, with the fluid under pressure, move laterally through thenipples 11 and the nozzles 12.

What is claimed is:---"

The combination with a casing head having a lateral outlet, of a tubular member in the top of the casing head, the tubular member having a fluidpressure inlet, and a tubular nozzle communicating with the tubular member at a pointintermediate the ends of the tubular member, the nozzle being prolonged into the outlet, and being of materially less diameter than the outle In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

JOHN E. WELTON. 

